Abstract: A linear suspension element having preloaded legs that reduce fretting and maximize stroke within allowable stress limits. Also, a reciprocator and suspension including the linear suspension element.

Abstract: The efficiency of converting electrical energy into a mechanical output is maximized by alternatively matching selection of power supply for the drive coil applying a magnetic field to transducer element made of a magnetostrictive material having a near-zero magnetic anisotropy, or matching selection of the magnetostrictive material to the required magnetostriction for a given power supply.

Abstract: A small footprint vertical lift and rotary positioning stage comprises a bottom wedge and a top wedge, a linear bearing between the bottom wedge and the top wedge, cam grooves and cam surfaces for constraining the motion of the top wedge in a vertical direction, a brushless linear motor for moving the bottom wedge back and forth along a horizontal path raising and lowering the top wedge, a circular table rotatably mounted on the top wedge and having a first cylindrical flange extending downward from a segment of the circumference of the circular table, a bracket mounted on the side of the top wedge, the bracket supporting an upwardly extending second cylindrical flange coaxial with the circular table and the first cylindrical flange, and a brushless curvilinear motor between the first and second cylindrical flanges.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dynamo-electric machine rotating by electromagnetic induction such as it acts on linear electric motors. It possesses a ring-shaped rotor (1) and an inductance coil stator (2) interacting at least with a part of said rotor (1).

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of generating magnetic centering force on the permanent magnets of a reciprocating permanent magnet motor or generator, by allowing the ferromagnetic structure of the machine to saturate magnetically when the permanent magnets are near the ends of their travel.

Abstract: In an electric linear motor, the stator coils are arranged in a line, and the field they produce advances along that line driving the translator along with it. None of the known linear motors can provide all of very high speed, low force, long travel, high linearity and very low moving mass; the present invention proposes an answer in the form of a mechanism that applies motive, displacing force not primarily in the direction along with translator movement is desired but instead approximately at right angles to that direction, the translator being “squeezed” out like a cherry pip squeezed between finger and thumb.

Abstract: A linear actuator comprises a mobile which is provided substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of a ball screw shaft with its first side portion connected to a screw guide member and with its second side portion slidably fitted to a slider, while movably holding a ball screw nut engaged with the ball screw shaft by the aid of the screw guide member which is finely movable in a recess of the slider allowed to ride over a guide rail in a bridging manner.

Abstract: A linear motion unit (10) includes a runner (14) that is arranged so as to be movable along a rod (12). Provided in front of and/or behind the runner (14) are support units (20) that support the rod (12) relative to a counter-element (18). Provided on the runner (14) and the support units (20) are catches (28) that in each case can be brought into latched engagement with the adjacent support unit (20). The support units (20) are each comprised of a base body (22) upon which is movably mounted a control element (24). The control element (24) can be moved between at least one latched position and at least one released position by means of a control track (30). In accordance with the invention, the control element (24) has at least one control recess (24b).

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling cooling of a linear motor includes: a stator having a first temperature sensor, a heat sink and at least one cooling fan installed at a predetermined portion thereof; a mover having a second temperature sensor and a heat sink installed at the upper surface thereof; an encoder for sensing a position of the mover and generating a position signal; an A/D converter for receiving and converting signals from the first and the second temperature sensors and outputting a first and a second temperature sensing signals; a controller for generating a plurality of cooling fan control signals and an air valve control signal to cool the heat generated from the stator and the mover; a D/A converter for converting the plurality of cooling fan control signals and the air valve control signal and transmitting a plurality of drive signals to the plurality of cooling fans and to the air valve; and a mover driver for providing a drive signal to a coil block.

Abstract: A brake apparatus for a moving apparatus driven by a linear motor, to support a headstock. The brake apparatus includes an air cylinder disposed parallel with a travelling direction, a compressor to supply fluid under pressure to the air cylinder, a 2-port solenoid valve disposed on a fluid path connecting from the compressor to the air cylinder, and a controlling device that outputs a signal to open the 2-port solenoid valve during normal operation of the linear motor and controls the 2-port solenoid valve to close when the power supply to the linear motor is interrupted or the linear motor is stopped in an emergency.

Abstract: Electromagnetic apparatus for producing an axially directed force comprising a stator having a plurality of axially spaced coils around a working volume within which an armature in the form of a free piston is axially displaceable, the armature having means for producing a magnetic field a substantially radially directed part of which intersects at least some of the coils of the stator such that a resultant axially directed force is generated when a current flows in the coils.

Abstract: The invention includes a two-dimensional electric motor having two arrays of permanent magnets and at least two coils. The arrays of permanent magnets each have north and south poles distributed in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions along a plane. North poles in the first array are aligned with south poles in the second array, and south poles in the first array are aligned with north poles in the second array. The coil has a portion between the two arrays of permanent magnets. In another embodiment, the two-dimensional electric motor has an array of permanent magnets and two sets of two coils. The two sets of two coils are positioned on two different sides of the array. The invention permits simpler control methods, more stable motion, increased efficiency, and reduced stray magnetic fields. The invention should be particularly useful in semiconductor processing equipment.

Abstract: Described herein is a multi-phase transverse flux machine, which comprises a stator with essentially U-shaped and I-shaped cores (1, 2) of a soft-magnetic material and respectively one stator winding (3) for each phase that generates a magnetic flux in these cores, as well as a rotor with circular magnetic return path (4). The phases of the stator are magnetically separated. The rotor contains electrically conductive material (5, 6) in each of the phases, wherein the electrically conductive material of at least two phases is arranged and is interconnected in the rotor, such that if an alternating current flows through the stator windings of these phases, a current generating a starting torque for the rotor is induced in the electrically conductive material. The at least two phases thus electrically form a rotating magnetic field machine in the rotor.

Abstract: An encoder includes a plurality of magnetic zones of alternating polarity. At the opposed ends of the encoder magnet are magnetic end zones that provide substantially symmetric magnetic fields. The encoder sensors include first and second sensors that are spaced apart from each other a distance functionally related to the distance between the magnetic end zones. A plurality of first and second sensors are arranged so that the encoder magnet may move relative to the sensors. Each of the first and second sensors provides an associated output signal in response to magnetic influence of the encoder magnet moving past each respective encoder sensor. When each of the first and second encoder sensors senses one of the magnetic end zones of the encoder magnet, the associated output signals are substantially symmetric.

Abstract: A linear drive, useful in particular as drive for a piece of furniture, includes at least one spindle, and a drive mechanism, having a drive motor and a reduction gear in driving relationship with the drive motor, for rotatably driving the spindle. The drive mechanism is provided with a drive element having an input member and an output member, with the input member selectively adjustable with respect to the output member.

Abstract: A reciprocating rotary action actuator consisting of a rotor and stator that can be added to a bi-directional rotary motor or galvanometer scanner, where the stator has a ring magnet and a pair of soft iron pole pieces that concentrate the flux of the ring magnet into a concentric set of narrow, uniformly spaced, axially oriented, magnetic flux fields intersecting the rotor's field of travel. The rotor has small permanent magnets embedded in the periphery of a nonconductive, nonmagnetic rotor core. The rotor magnets have the same number and spacing as the stator's magnetic flux fields. The magnet poles are oriented opposite the flux fields of the stator pole pieces, so that upon rotation, the rotor magnets encounter the stator flux fields at each end of rotor travel, creating an opposing force that reverses the angular direction of the rotor with minimal requirement for actuator current and generation of thermal losses.

Abstract: A stage system includes a movable stage, a position measuring device for measuring the position of the stage, a velocity sensor for detecting the velocity of the stage, and a control unit having a position feedback loop based on an output of the position measuring device and a feedback loop for applying a damping to the stage on the basis of an output of the velocity sensor. With the addition of the feedback loop for applying the damping to the stage by using an output of the velocity sensor, a strong braking function is provided, such that the positioning settlement time can be shortened.

Abstract: An electric motor 10 includes a motor housing 12 defining an internal cavity 15. A brush card assembly 24, a commutator 26 and an armature assembly 18 are provided in the cavity 15. The commutator 26 cooperates with the brush card assembly 24 to resupply electric current to the armature assembly 18. Permanent magnet structure 44 is provided in the housing 12 to generate a magnetic field to cause rotation of the armature assembly 18. A FET 52 is mounted with respect to the housing 16 so as to be in heat exchange relation therewith. A gate terminal G of the FET is constructed and arranged to receive pulse width modulation output from an electronic control unit 64 which is remote from the motor so as to enable able the motor to operate at more than one speed. A method of integrating a FET in a motor is also provided.

Abstract: A reference pulse signal P is produced which is synchronized in frequency with a pulse signal S derived from a vibration source and has a predetermined duty ratio. Then, a control signal C is produced by providing at least one or more off intervals &agr;, &bgr; . . . at a random timing and random width predetermined for the reference pulse signal P to have the control amplitude correlated with the amplitude of the vibrations at the vibration source. This control signal C is used for controlling the switching action of the electromagnetic valve to have a desired level of pressure change in an air chamber 35 of a pneumatic vibrator which in turn develops a vibrating force on a mass member 20. The vibrations of the mass member can thus offset the vibrations of the chassis of a vehicle. Also, an electromagnetic vibrator can produce a similar control signal for eliminating the vibrations of the chassis.

Abstract: A rotary electrical machine (1) has at least one stator (23). The stator is provided with at least one radial channel (107) for ducting cooling air. The channel (107) extends between a first position (113) at or substantially near the rim (109) of a winding region of the stator (23) and a second position (119) at or substantially near the center (51) of the winding region. The machine (1) has cooling means (91-97) for causing cooling air to enter the radial channel (107) via the second position (119) and exit via the first portion (113). The stator may have electrical windings arranged as coil sectors (183-197) disposed substantially equi-angularly in a generally circular pattern. At least some of the coil sectors are wound in a generally spiral fashion when viewed axially. A rotor (13), for the machine may have a plurality of equi-angularly spaced magnets (127), which are generally circular but with a cut-away portion, when viewed axially.